Solent Water Quality Awards

The Solent Water Quality Award Scheme was launched in 1992 to provide a simple and readily understood indicator of satisfactory water quality at bathing beaches and, where feasible, in recreational waters around the Solent.

The scheme supplements the various beach and resort award schemes, including the Blue Flag, which are administered by ENCAMS, and which all deal with many other criteria in addition to water quality. The scheme is administered by the Solent Forum on behalf of the Solent Water Quality Association. All beaches regularly used for bathing (private or Local Authority managed), non-designated as well as designated, are eligible for an award under the scheme. Water regularly used for recreational activities involving immersion such as water skiing, boardsailing etc. may also be included where the applying organisation can show that the sampling results presented are representative of the whole area for which the application is made. Please contact the Solent Forum if your manage a beach or water body and would like to apply for an award, and we will include you in the next request for applications.